How to Create An Amazing Indoor Summer Picnic

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company.The opinions and text are all mine. #PBLOVE

Summer is in full swing at our house! And where we live it gets HOT!! So you better believe we spend a lot of time inside, at the pool, splash pad, or outside in the SHADE. We have to come up with different ways to keep my kids busy and entertained since going outside isn’t always an option.

One of our favorite things to do is have an INDOOR PICNIC! Not only is it fun, but my kids think it’s like a party! It is such a fun way to spend a summer afternoon. My kids think it’s SO special and get super excited as soon as they realize what day it is. We head over to Walmart and pick up our groceries, and anything else we might need. Then we head home and get going!

Here’s what you need:

A Cozy Blanket or Tablecloth- That you don’t mind getting a little messy

Board Game or Crayons/Paper

Fun Drinks

Healthy Fruit or Vegetable

Personalized Jif® and Smucker’s® Sandwiches

Once we are home from the store I lay out our Blanket or Tablecloth. I love to get out some freshly sharpened colored pencils and then print out a fun word search activity or coloring page. This is perfect for my kids to do while I make their lunch. They love that it’s always something different, and I love that it gets their active minds working.

The best part about this special lunch tradition is that you can switch it up to fit any lifestyle! It may not be as possible to create an indoor picnic for kids once school starts up again. You can try to keep the fun by creating a personalized lunch with a cute note or picture for them to take to school at least once a week. Their eyes will light up when they see it!

Their favorite part is their unique set up and personalized lunch. My kids are both very particular and picky eaters, so having a meal that is just how they want is like a dream come true. I don’t always make them a meal just how they like it, and usually there is someone whining or wanting to leave the table early. But not today!

My 5 year old LOVES a good Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich….but it has to be on his favorite bread, and cut into “Triangles.” He also wants EXTRA Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter (because, who could blame him…it’s dang good) and a perfect amount of his favorite Smucker’s® Strawberry Jam.

Then there is my sassy and sweet 2 1/2 year old. She wants a sandwich withJif® Creamy Peanut Butter and Smucker’s® Strawberry Jam, but there can be NO CRUST! Not a sign of it. So to make her sandwich special I cut off any trace of crust and cut it right down the middle so she has her “square” sandwich. Technically, it’s rectangles…..but oh well. I love to see her sweet little face and how excited she is to have a sandwich JUST the way she likes it.

Every summer I think to myself, this is going to be the summer, the summer of relaxing and slowing down….but somehow it always ends up crazy. Someone always has a playdate, sports, and we love to go on spontaneous trips. Each day becomes crazier than the rest, so being able to come together for our picnic and to see my kids happy and having fun is a win in my book.

We have made this a weekly summer tradition at our house. I personally love doing it on a Monday! It’s a fantastic way to get everyone started on a good note for the week, and it helps Power Their Day! There’s nothing worse than when my kids just want “snacks” all day. I love that Jif® Peanut Butter has 7 grams of protein in it. It is sustainable and keeps them feeling good for hours after eating. There’s nothing better than two happy kids with full tummies.